GOP convention seeks help for victims of Hurricane Gustav

Juliet Williams Associated Press Sept. 1, 2008 05:09 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. - With their plans for opening day of the Republican National Convention dashed, First lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain instead appealed to GOP faithful to donate time and money to those caught in Hurricane Gustav.

Appearing at the podium, Bush said America's priority has shifted away from politics, but that the hurricane offered an opportunity for a politically divided America to come together. "The effect of Hurricane Gustav is just now being measured. When such events occur, we are reminded that first, we are all Americans, and that our shared American ideals will always transcend political parties and partisanship," she told delegates.

McCain, the wife of GOP presidential candidate John McCain joined her there, asking delegates to come together quickly to generate aid.

"As John has been saying for the last several days, this is a time when we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats," Cindy McCain said.

Their brief addresses capped a day in which the two sought to emphasize volunteer service rather than politics - and the joint appearance gave some a bit of badly needed zip to the convention proceedings.

Cindy McCain hopes to succeed Laura Bush as first lady. And while the McCain campaign likely wasn't too unhappy at President Bush's decision to go to Texas to keep an eye on the storm, given Bush's relatively low popularity standings these days, it couldn't have minded having the company of the more popular Laura Bush here.

The two women visited earlier Monday with volunteers setting up a work space in the basement of the Minneapolis Convention Center, where delegates and other volunteers were expected to soon start making up care packages for hurricane victims.

Minneapolis-based Target is donating items such as toothbrushes, shampoo and non-perishable food that will be packaged and shipped by FedEx to the Gulf Coast, the McCain campaign said.

"While we're here in Minneapolis-St. Paul, we can do things for people on the Gulf Coast," Bush told reporters at the convention center.

McCain said she expects Americans to demonstrate the kind of generosity they've become known for when disaster strikes anywhere in the world.

"We are always the first to respond and we are always the last to leave," she said.

McCain also cheered on GOP volunteers who were part of an impromptu phone bank set up in a conference room at the Minneapolis Hilton, where delegations from South Carolina and New Hampshire are staying.

While she was there, a woman announced that the approximately 60 people making calls had already raised more than $1 million in pledged contributions in just over an hour.

And reporters were not exempt from the appeal, either. As McCain moved to leave the room, she pointed at a row of reporters and said, "We want all of you guys to give, too."

Laura Bush also made surprise visits to the Texas and Louisiana delegation breakfasts Monday. She said she knows people are disappointed about the scaled-back convention plans.

Her husband, Vice President Dick Cheney and others were originally scheduled to kick off the convention Monday, but had to back out because of the hurricane.

Bush noted that she, too, had to scuttle plans.

Her speech praising Cindy McCain was ready to go, she said, although she still hopes to deliver it at some point.

Standing next to McCain at the convention center, she beamed at her and said, "I gave it to Cindy already so she could read it."